5/8″ ball bearing playground

This kinetic sculpture is a ball bearing’s paradise. Not only do they get a cushy ride around two lift wheels but there’s a variety of enjoyable obstacles they can go down. The first is a vortex made from a wooden flower pot which sends the balls randomly down one of two possible exits. From there it’s on to enjoy a ride on a flip-flop, a divide-by-three (takes weight of three marbles before it dumps them all), a zig-zag track, or a divide by twelve mechanism. We’re sure this is a riveting read, but don’t miss the video after the break where [Ronald Walter] shows it in action and takes it apart to illustrate the various features.

@JC LOL you know my brother worked for FAG bearings and had this name tag that had to be visible at all times. So there was a nice close up picture of his face with a huge red FAG right above it… I loved it :)

@Caspan – I hoped somebody would get that! I actually used to work for Timken, so that was always pretty funny to me. I’m sure it means something way different in Germany (I think that’s the right country).